Trident maple before and after

[Jak]

Bought this maple yesterday for $20


trying to achieve a formal upright, what do use think

[Pat093]

hey mate

What is the rock hanging there for?
not a good way of bending.

Pat

[The Ficus Guy]

Bought this maple yesterday for $20
gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1492

trying to achieve a formal upright, what do use think

gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1493

Interesting. I don't think what you are trying will work though. I'm unsure of how well Tridents fuse, but I'm assuming what you're trying to do is get that branch to fuse to the trunk. To get this to occur (if it will, I'm new-ish to Tridents) you should really plant the tree out into a grow box, or better yet, the yard. Allow it to grow as much as possible and gain more size. Chopping is another way to get branches down lower, so you may be better off doing that.

[Jak]

Hey Pat,
I was just trying a few different ways, Im new but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm, i couldn't get the same natural shape with wire.
Thanks for the advice ill keep an eye on it

[Jak]

Bought this maple yesterday for $20
gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1492

trying to achieve a formal upright, what do use think

gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1493

Interesting. I don't think what you are trying will work though. I'm unsure of how well Tridents fuse, but I'm assuming what you're trying to do is get that branch to fuse to the trunk. To get this to occur (if it will, I'm new-ish to Tridents) you should really plant the tree out into a grow box, or better yet, the yard. Allow it to grow as much as possible and gain more size. Chopping is another way to get branches down lower, so you may be better off doing that.

Hey thanks thats kinda what i was hoping to achieve, i thought it would take a few years but would get there (obviously the wire has been removed). I had thought of doing a trunk chop but i thought id give this a go first. Ill deffs get it in a bigger pot though cheers

[The Ficus Guy]

Bought this maple yesterday for $20
gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1492

trying to achieve a formal upright, what do use think

gallery/image.php?album_id=200&image_id=1493

Interesting. I don't think what you are trying will work though. I'm unsure of how well Tridents fuse, but I'm assuming what you're trying to do is get that branch to fuse to the trunk. To get this to occur (if it will, I'm new-ish to Tridents) you should really plant the tree out into a grow box, or better yet, the yard. Allow it to grow as much as possible and gain more size. Chopping is another way to get branches down lower, so you may be better off doing that.

Hey thanks thats kinda what i was hoping to achieve, i thought it would take a few years but would get there (obviously the wire has been removed). I had thought of doing a trunk chop but i thought id give this a go first. Ill deffs get it in a bigger pot though cheers

Then again, a chop would only slow the growth of the trunk. If I were you I would just let the tree grow for now, in a bigger pot in better, free draining soil. Then you should get more buds to pop by just letting it grow, grow, grow.

[Jak]

Awesome I think it'll look good, thanks for your advice ill keep posting pics of its growth
Jak

[Matthew]

Jack
how long have you had the trident. they will not like townsville very much. i grew them in rockhampton and even that was pushing it. they dont get the dormant period required to keep them in good health and also humidity isent great for them either. having said that they may survive for years up there there just dont look as good compared with them south. its off the topic abit but thought id throw that in. its quite a young tree so aquire some shape by wiring . i think the rock may not succeed in the effect your hoping for.

[mickaus]

What was the green stuff in the first pic? I have never seen anything like it before.

[Jak]

Hey matthew,
I only bought it yesterday off a guy i met a bunnings a few weeks back, I entirely agree with what your saying i've had heaps of trouble trying to find a maple up here, because of being so hard to grow, but this guy has had his trident for several years, and grown heaps of cuttings which i was lucky enough to get.
I dont think it'll get the same fall colours but i still like it haha . Iv'e also planted heaps of cuttings so hopefully i have so luck, I'll let use know
Thanks
Jak

[Jak]

haha I said the same thing Mickaus, Its just fine coloured rock. I didnt like it, its free draining enough. Iv'e got It in another pot now haha

[kcpoole]

It has been said, that formal uprights are one of the hardest forms to get right,a nd also has been said that there is No tru formal uprights in Australia.
Dunno whether both are true or not ?

To be a formal upright, the tree MUST comply with the appropriate rules.
Trunk must be perfectly straight when viewed from any angle
Must have Consistent taper
Must have Evenly spread radial Nebari
Must have evenly spaced and radiating branching

when you do a chop you must wire the new leader straight up so it sits directly above the chop. Over time it will fill and blend with the lower section.
The branch with the rock will eventually fuse to the trunk the way you have it, but it will leave an ugly lump up that side and create negative taper. Both will exclude it from being a formal upright.

check the wiki for more info here https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... ight_style
Ken

[Jak]

Hey ken,
Its good to know what competitions are like, but for now Im just learning. Its my fourth tree but the biggest, first real decision making iv'e had to make. I got a pretty mean juniper that might be comp worthy one day haha. Ill read up on styles and requirements thanks.
If it doesn't work the maple still has potential

cheers Jak

[The Ficus Guy]

Ken brings up a great point about the fusing. If it does fuse it will ruin the taper of the tree. So I would take the wire off and use that branch to help grow the trunk out more.

[Jak]

Ken brings up a great point about the fusing. If it does fuse it will ruin the taper of the tree. So I would take the wire off and use that branch to help grow the trunk out more.

Oh yea sorry, I get what your saying, I don't want to slow it down or wreck the taper, thanks i'll go let that branch free.

Jak